PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, CUM HOLIDAY TO EASTERN EUROPE

This is the main street of Medujorge, a village in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in which 32 years ago, the Virgin Mary first appeared to six visionaries bringing messages for the world to pray, fast and do penance in order that there may be peace in the world. I was 'invited' by our Lady, who addressed herself as the Queen of Peace, with my family there in the late 80's and I was back again with my Madam on 24 Nov and 15 others on a pilgrimage-cum-holiday here and to other parts of Eastern (Middle) Europe.The labels below give an idea of the countries and places we visited. For Marian apparitions in Medjujorje, visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Medjugorje

The Parish Church of St James. St James co-incidentally is the Patron Saint of pilgrims. Some of the apparitions have taken place here. Millions of pilgrims continue to flock here throughout the year thereby bringing much change to the simple village.

The demand for space has resulted in an addition of this structure to the back of the church. Many seats are added in the open too. Confession boxes around the church have also been added. 

My Madam with our Spiritual Director, Rev Fr Joseph Nathan, from the Church of St Mary of the Angels, posing with a statue of Our Lady.

Juliana, our guide, giving a briefing before we climbed Apparitions Hill where the Blessed Virgin appeared to the visionaries often.

One of the seven hills surrounding the village.

Climbing up and down the hill is made difficult by the sharp protruding rocks. On the way up, the Rosary (Sorrowful Mysteries) is prayed to make it more profound. This has been an addition since my first pilgrimage.

The Blue Cross is the spot where our Lady would meet the young visionaries when the communist police were after them. The original Blue Cross made of wood was burnt. This one made of metal has replaced it.

This old house opposite the Blue Cross has remained as I remember it. As Medujorge has advanced economically, such houses are hard to come by now.

PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, CUM HOLIDAY TO EASTERN EUROPE

We went to Mostar in Bosnia-Herzergovina to visit a Franciscan monastery and celebrate mass. Then we went for lunch at a typical Bosnian restaurant with a profound Turkish influence. This ruin left from the "Homeland War" from 1992-95 after Yugoslavia fell was along the way. Bullet holes can be seen in the wall of the structure.

Cobble-stoned street leading to the restaurant and the Old Bridge of Mostar. Bullet holes are visible on the walls here too.

Mostar residential architecture where stones are dominant

Quaint shops selling stuff along the way. Our group was attracted but hunger overrode that interest.

Our guide, Juliana, who is a cousin of Vicka, one of the Medjugorge visionaries, with my Madam and Louisa, our neighbour.

Our lunch of a 'mini' meat platter which we couldn't finish as we made the mistake of ordering a soup (which we took with bread) and salad. Inexpensive at 10 Euro.

Our friends, Louisa and Noel, ordered this 'mini' fish platter which they couldn't finish for the same mistake. It cost them 16 Euro.

The famous Mostar Old Bridge (Stari Most), originally designed by an Ottoman architect, which witnessed lots of fighting in the Homeland War and was bombed out by the ethnic forces involved. It has since been rebuilt with cobblestones retained. Come another time and one may see divers plunging into the extremely cold waters below. Divers from other countries have tried it and some lost their lives. The waters are so cold that divers will douse themselves with icy water before plunging to prevent hypothermia. To land in a wrong spot of the river is also assurance of certain death.The height of the bridge from the river is about 24 m. For its history, visit: Wiki

The Neretva River which runs under it. Currents here are very strong.

This side of the river is East Mostar and pre-dominantly Moslem. The bridge divides this area into predominantly Christian and Moslem precincts. This was a consequence of the war.

Another section of the Moslem precinct.

The Christian side of the river.

PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, CUM HOLIDAY TO EASTERN EUROPE

As we were leaving Croatia, we stopped at Zadar, a port city, for lunch. Zadar is located on the River Danube which connects many European cities and towns like Budapest.

The Town Square in which the restaurant is located.

A make-shift market in Zadar

A car ferry which can make journeys to Italy eg in 10 hours.

At a petrol pump pee break on the way to Budapest

Shot from the coach of one of many bridges spanning the River Danube in Budapest. Budapest is made of two components - Buda and Pest - separated by the river. The genesis of Budapest as a city can be attributed to Attila the Hun.

Is this the "all-seeing eye" found atop a restaurant entrance?

Changing of the guards at Budapest Palace

Side altar in St Mathias' Church, Budapest.

It's about 4 pm but it's already dark. Taken from the Fishermen's Bastion.

St Mathias' Church with the statue of St King Stephen on the left

St Stephen was a great king of Hungary canonised as a saint.

Cathedral of Esztergom in Hungary where we had mass and later lunch under it in a cavern restaurant

Frontal shot of cathedral

Beautiful architecture from medieval times

Such organs are a common feature in old churches and cathedrals there

PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, CUM HOLIDAY TO EASTERN EUROPE

A tram car stop in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Trams cars are common in E Europe.

Arriving in Zakopane, Poland, by night, we stopped at the Soup Restaurant for dinner. The soup tasted like our "kiam chye" soup. By our standards, soup there is extremely salty.

The Tatra Mountains surrounding Zakopane. A favourite place for Blessed Pope John Paul II to  ski the slopes.

The Mercure Hotel in Zakopane where we stayed.

The Church of the Holy Virgin of Fatima in Zakopane built in thanksgiving for Blessed Pope John Paul II's survival of the assassination attempt on his life. The Pope came here to pray in thanksgiving and dedicate it to our Lady.

Interior of the church

The Pope with Our Lady of Fatima and the seers.

A large cross erected in the centre peak, like the one in Mt Krisevac in Medujorge, is covered by clouds. View from the church.

The Old Wooden Church of Zakopane. Possibly one of only two wooden churches in the world.

The altar of the Wooden Church

Nice town. No heavy traffic.

My Madam looking forward to her tea break and shopping during free & easy time.

Zakopane is the place to relax and unwind in.

Not a car in sight. Population - 28K! Tourist arrivals: 2 mil a year.

Nice house. The materials used and design of houses are similar. Closer examination will reveal the walls to be sawn logs caulked in between by wood shavings. Sheer ingenuity!

By European standards, the Church of the Holy Family in Zakopane
 where we celebrated mass is rather modern.

Lunch time.

Like most restaurants we patronised, lunch time is like dinner time. Many have the "cavern" feeling.

Parting shot of Zakopane.